Australian history: Online and insatiable

The Internet has changed the relationship of Australians to information. As history rises in popularity as a genre for leisurely entertainment, the way people interact with Australian history online is also changing. Digital history is democratized; it has never been easier for both scholars and the general public to obtain historical content, or to develop and share historical works. Yet these developments in presenting, creating and storing historical data online are not without their complications. The proliferation of online histories has engendered a digital space where it is sometimes hard to distinguish credible material. Moreover, issues of subscription and accessibility complicate individual abilities to consume particular histories. This article examines the notion of history as commodity by examining Australian histories online, such as genealogy archives and databases. Key points of discussion are the complexities and dynamic developments in digital history as a popular genre, as well as the extent to which digital Australian histories are informative representations of the past.